Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
MATTHEW 22:9KJVWhat does Matthew 22:9 mean?
Matthew 22:9 records Jesus telling his listeners, through a parable, to go out into the main roads and invite everyone they find to a wedding feast. The verse shows an open invitation being extended to all kinds of people, not just a select group.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a crowd, including religious leaders, using a story about a king hosting a wedding banquet for his son. The king’s original guests refused to come, so he commands his servants to go out to the highways and invite anyone they encounter. The verse highlights the king’s desire to fill his banquet with guests, no matter who they are or where they come from.
The Greek behind Matthew 22:9
- ἐξέρχεσθε (ye, G4198, transliterated "exerchesthe") means "go out" or "depart," emphasizing an active movement away from the original group toward a wider audience.
- διεξόδους (highways, G1327, transliterated "diexodous") refers to crossroads or main roads, suggesting places where many different people pass by, not just the familiar or expected guests.
- καλέσατε (bid, G2564, transliterated "kalesate") means "call" or "invite," showing that the invitation is not just a suggestion but a purposeful act of welcoming.
- γάμους (marriage, G1062, transliterated "gamous") means "wedding feast," which in the parable stands for a joyful, important event that the king wants to share widely.
Why Matthew 22:9 matters
- Matthew 22:9 clarifies that the invitation to the king’s banquet is not limited to a privileged or expected group; it is intentionally extended to anyone found, breaking social and religious boundaries.
- The verse shifts the focus from those who refused the invitation to the openness and generosity of the king, which echoes the broader message of Jesus about God’s kingdom being open to all.
- Understanding this verse helps make sense of the rest of the parable, where both good and bad people are gathered in, showing that the king’s priority is a full celebration, not the background or status of the guests.